Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grants And Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
MSA apologizes after reported CWFP application error; firm also offers cloud GIS for Brodhead
Summary
MSA told the Brodhead council a Clean Water Fund application was denied due to an error it said was made on the application, putting eligibility for about $749,000 at risk; the firm also proposed a cloud-based GIS system and said other grants remain (CDBG and a Safe Drinking Fund award).
Joe DeYoung of engineering consultant MSA told the Brodhead Common Council on Nov. 13 that the city’s application to the Department of Natural Resources’ Clean Water Fund Program (CWFP) was denied after a line on the application was marked incorrectly. DeYoung said the error was on MSA’s side, apologized to the council and said the firm is exploring recourse and working with financial adviser Ehlers to find options for the project.
DeYoung and Mayor Simpson discussed the scale of the denied CWFP assistance; Simpson referenced roughly $800,000, and DeYoung later described the CWFP amount as about $749,000. DeYoung said other funding for the related street project remains: the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) award was confirmed and a Safe Drinking Fund application was approved for the water main with 50% principal forgiveness.
DeYoung explained a potential option is to request that the Water & Light utility take a larger loan or act as a funding conduit under DNR contingency guidelines; he stated that Water & Light’s application amount can be higher under DNR rules even if the utility will not take the full amount. The council questioned whether an audit or additional oversight could have prevented the filing error; DeYoung acknowledged a missing step in the project’s documentation process and apologized for the mistake while stressing past successes working with the city.
MSA also presented a separate proposal for a cloud-based geographic information system (GIS). Scott Kiley described a platform to restore and update the city’s GIS, initially focused on sanitary sewer mapping with the ability to overlay county property data, display sidewalks and infrastructure, and be accessible in the field via username and password. Kiley said backup mechanisms exist, that data limits are unlikely to be exceeded for a community Brodhead’s size, and that additional data blocks are available for purchase at approximately $120 per year if needed.
The council did not take formal action on the CWFP issue or the GIS proposal at the Nov. 13 meeting; DeYoung said MSA will continue to work with the city and utilities to communicate next steps and pursue possible remedies.
